May 26, 2007

MMC: We can act against fly-by-night doctors

Star: PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) can act against foreign fly-by-night doctors who carry out cosmetic surgery without a valid temporary practising certificate.
“Action can be taken,” said its president Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican on Thursday.
“There are doctors coming in and in cohorts with some who are providing the treatment. They are the fly-by-night doctors who come in quietly and do the job. They are not registered with the MMC.”
He said that doctors were supposed to register with the MMC if they wanted to come to Malaysia to carry out procedures.
Dr Ismail, who is also Health Ministry director-general, added that the Cosmetology Bill, which was expected to be tabled by early next year, would enable the ministry to make sure that premises adhered to guidelines drawn up for them.
“Right now, they can plead ignorance. We will be in a better position to carry out enforcement,” he said, adding that the Traditional and Complementary Medicine Bill would keep traditional medicine practitioners in check.
Dr Ismail said that there were between 8,000 and 10,000 outlets which carried out unapproved cosmetic surgeries, such as beauty shops, which were not allowed to do procedures which included ingestion or injections.
He also encouraged those who had fallen victim to botched procedures to lodge complaints with the ministry so that it would be able to carry out raids.
Malaysian Association of Plastic, Aesthetic and Craniomaxillofacial Surgeons (Mapacs) president Dr Peter Wong T.L. advised the public to seek treatment at clinics or hospitals run by registered doctors or plastic surgeons.